The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, along with the Ravalli County Sheriff's Office are investigating the theft of explosives from a Victor construction company.

Sheriff Chris Hoffman said on Friday, April 4, that the theft occurred sometime between March 15 and April 1.

"A suspect or suspects used force to access an explosives storage facility operated by the Ajax Contracting Company north of Victor," Hoffman said. "Approximately 285 pounds of high explosives were taken from the bunker. Those explosives include ammonium nitrate fuel oil, explosive boosters and dynamite."

photo courtesy of ATF

Hoffman said locating the missing explosives is the number one priority of his office, as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

"Obviously, locating these explosives is imperative to the citizens of Ravalli County and the surrounding communities," Hoffman said. "We're working very closely with the ATF right now to resolve this case as quickly and as safely as possible."

Hoffman said a reward has been offered for information that may lead to the recovery of the explosives.

"There is a $5,000 reward being offered to anyone with information that leads to the recovery of the explosives, and the arrest and conviction of those responsible for this theft," Hoffman said. "I just don't even want to speculate on the reasons why anyone would steal these explosives, but we just want to get them back. We feel that somebody out there can give us some information regarding this theft, and again, we are encouraging them to contact the sheriff's office or the ATF hotline with that information."

photo courtesy of ATF

The ATF hotline is 1-888-ATF-BOMB (1-888-283-2662), or locally in Missoula, call 721-2611. The Ravalli County Sheriff's Office can be reached by calling 363-3033, or an anonymous tip can be called in to Crimestoppers at 363-0062.